Theseus Mauruki Shambare
FISHERIES and aquaculture institutions, universities, private-sector players, farmer organisations and individual producers have been honoured for their contributions to strengthening Zimbabwe’s aquaculture value chain under the FISH4ACP programme.
The awards were presented during the programme’s Legacy Event in Harare, recognising partners and farmers whose contributions enabled the implementation of project activities and achievement of key milestones.
The recognition covered four categories: Policy, Governance and Sector Leadership; Innovation and Technology Advancement; Capacity Development and Knowledge Transfer; and Enterprise and Value Chain Development.
The Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) Directorate of Internationalisation and Strategic Partnerships received the Aquaculture Partnership and Investment Champion Award for strengthening multi-stakeholder coordination and mobilising strategic partnerships to improve investment readiness in the sector.
The Fisheries and Aquaculture Resources Department (FARD) received the National Aquaculture Leadership Award for its policy and institutional leadership, including generating sector information through the Fisheries and Aquaculture Frame Survey and raising the sector’s visibility through the national aquaculture symposium.
The Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) was recognised for developing a national fish marketing strategy to strengthen market access, competitiveness and value-chain coordination.
In the innovation category, CUT Innovation Hub was honoured for advancing Black Soldier Fly technology in local fish-feed production, while Fortune Garapo received recognition for demonstrating the commercial application of insect-based feed. Farmer Afra Nanhanga was also recognised for adopting and validating innovative feed technologies.
Other recipients included CUT Fisheries Department for its Aquaculture Business School training, AQUA ZIM for promoting Good Aquaculture Management Practices, World Vision Zimbabwe for strengthening farmer organisations and governance systems, and Irene Chihanga for her contribution to farmer training and knowledge transfer.
The Zimbabwe Fish Producers Association (ZFPA) received the Value Chain Infrastructure Development Award for its work in hub development, business training, financial literacy and post-harvest practices. Rudo Maponga was recognised for cluster development and fingerling supply, while a Women-Led Aquaculture Cooperative received the Inclusive Growth and Women’s Empowerment Award. Sokonia Kaitano was honoured for his pioneering contribution to fish producers’ organisations and small cage culture development.
Martha Mutsabagwe, chairperson of the women-led group from Manicaland, said the programme had strengthened the women’s capacity to operate fish farming as a business.
“Through the training, technical support and opportunities we received, we have gained the knowledge and confidence to run aquaculture as a viable business, not just a way of producing food for our families,” she said.
ZFPA vice-chairperson and National Development and Outreach Coordinator Sokonia Kaitano said the programme had strengthened collaboration across the sector.
“As an association, we have benefited from the knowledge-sharing, capacity-building initiatives and support towards organising farmers into viable production groups,” he said.
He said the partnerships and innovations established under the programme should continue beyond its lifespan to enable more small-scale farmers to participate meaningfully in the aquaculture value chain.
The awards recognised service providers who partnered with FISH4ACP as well as farmers who contributed resources in kind by providing premises for project activities.
